MAX Dealership???

[wheeler]

I've been thinking AGAIN about becoming a Max dealer! I respect what 6x6 world and the people that post on it, have to say. What does everybody think, are the dealers selling any machines lately or are you sitting on your inventory for a long time? Dealers or 6x6 World admins and patrons what can you tell me about the market lately. I have been thinking about doing this for two years now and have done allot of research but before I make a 20,000 investment for two new machines I really would like to know what you think.

[racerone3]

I have pondered becoming a dealer (probably for Recreative) for some time. After some discussions with my local Argo dealer, My conclusions are that this needs to be a "side line" to another business, and you need to have the capitol investment for the machines, the "showroom space", and be in no huge hurry to sell them.

While Ken (Afore mentioned dealer of 30 ish years) sells quite a few units per year he also works on street cars, and services Argo's for SEVERALcommercial entities. While I don't currently (and haven't in some time) own an Argo, I think they are the most commercially viable machine. Max could get there, but won't put in the $$$$$ to R&D. Mud OX looks to have the potential to be great machine, but support to both dealers and owners has been a huge issue. I honestly believe that most people who sell and service new AATV's do it as much for the love of the hobby and the machines, as they do for profit.

[eddieb1965]

I was an Argo dealer for 5 years,roughest 5 years of my life.We finally turned a profit on our 5th year.We did countless sports shows and advertised locally(all for naught),Argo didnt have a very good advertising program and still dont(no help to the small dealer),all for a couple sales a year.I dont know how many people I had interested in machines, then after the demos and sent info packets and making several phone call,they up and tell you they bought a 4 wheeler that cost more money.I still have an Argo Bigfoot for recreation,but with todays prices I couldnt go out and buy a new one.I dont think the economy is strong enough for people to go buy a 8000-15000 play toy.Remember this is just my opinion,I didnt get much pleasure out of being a Argo dealer,I WOULD NOT do it again.

[wheeler]

Thanks
I need to hear this stuff. I asked RI to give me contacts related to how sells are going for other dealers and remarkably they have not responded. Not to say that they are holding anything back from med, but it's odd that responses to my asking about starting a dealership were almost immediate. I guess that they are in it for the money too, can't blame em. I'm a little concerned that I could be sitting on several machines a year from now, with no way of returning the machines to RI. I do have to say though that people are spending the 8000 to 11000 on 4 wheelers like there's no tomorrow. I do appreciate your inputs and keep it coming.

[eddieb1965]

Thats just the thing,you can promote the 6x6 and 8x8 with every advantage over a 4 wheeler (Exception being speed and suspension),but people go for the 4 wheelers that they see on tv commercials and ads in magazines.A small ad in the very back of a mag just doesnt cut it.Argo and Max I think have had their heyday,I dont think sales will equal what it was in the 80's and 90's,I knew Argo was trying to price theirself out of recreational market 10 years ago,this is why I stopped.I hate to sound to negative ,but be prepared to set on machines for a long periods of time,and yes they are yours,they arent going back to the factory.

[MaxRules]

Argo and Max I think have had their heyday,I dont think sales will equal what it was in the 80's and 90's,I knew Argo was trying to price theirself out of recreational market 10 years ago,this is why I stopped.

That sums up much of what I've seen since I bought my first new Max in '99.

I don't want to discourage anyone from starting any kind of business because there will always be a reason not to go for it and 'stay safe'. Unfortunately there just not much encouraging to do here. A Max or Argo "dealership" is a hobby. There is room to work with either brand but the market has never been worse. The combination of a terrible market for anything recreational, along with huge competetion from the four wheelers and side x sides, has given amphibs problems they have never seen before. We had the perfect storm for amphib growth in the late 90's. The market overall was picking up, there were no real multi-passenger vehicles on the market, competetion was not very advanced, and quads were the 'same old same old' as they had been since the '80s. None of those facts then are true today, as we now have a new perfect storm that could sink any amphib.

[brushcutter]

Thats just the thing,you can promote the 6x6 and 8x8 with every advantage over a 4 wheeler (Exception being speed and suspension),but people go for the 4 wheelers that they see on tv commercials and ads in magazines.A small ad in the very back of a mag just doesnt cut it.

I agree, I think it's as much about riding what everybody else is riding (fitting in) as anything else. Add to that the fact that most people don't want a machine that requires as much service as ours do, throw on a hefty price tag, slow speed and no suspension and the sales you thought you had will sink like a quad in soup. You want to freak out a small engine shop, drive up with your machine of choice on a trailer and ask them about putting new bearings and chains on it, and servicing the transmission, then get out your camera and film their response, as they try to tactfully tell you they " don't know nothing about them thangs".

There was a Ford dealership near me that sold Max's some years back, they had a Max II in their show room that had been there for 3 years and as far as I know they still had it when the economy crashed and they went under. I can't help but think that if atv shops would keep a couple of AATV's in their showroom and promote them they could sell a few each year. Look at it this way: MOST people around my part of the country have NEVER SEEN one other than on TV ...if at all. They are just not well known down here.

[Noel Woods]

Here's a different view: I live near two atv parks (River Run and Mud Creek). I have been stopped by atv drivers on multiple occasions and asked about my amphibs (Max2s, Max4, Argo, Super Swamp Fox) I've been made offers on each that were actually very attractive offers. I've not sold any machines because each is unique and I have a usage for each. I have given these folks info from 2 dealers (neither of which is anywhere near me) and I know that each dealer has sold machines to customers. Granted the sell of a few machines will not make either rich, but the exposure to the sport is what is really needed. A magazine ad is fine, but to actually show a potential buyer our machine's capabilities is eye-opening to many. To take them on a demo-ride is the definitive sales technique.
In this area all atv's are selling well. Most 4 wheelers are priced out $10-15k, which is pretty much what most new 6x6s are going for.

[eddieb1965]

Last thing I heard was in the day Argo(ODG) had 30+ workers for the fabrication and assy. of the Argo.They now have about 12,seems to me that if they were moving machines with the lineup they have they would have more people working.I have heard the same for the Max factory(slow).We can promote the hell out of these,but with no national exposure nobody knows what they are,or even what they are called.Wish I had a dollar for everytime an Argo or Max was called a Terra-Tiger. A name people remembers 40 +- years after the last one was built.

[brushcutter]

Here's a different view: I live near two atv parks (River Run and Mud Creek). I have been stopped by atv drivers on multiple occasions and asked about my amphibs (Max2s, Max4, Argo, Super Swamp Fox) I've been made offers on each that were actually very attractive offers. I've not sold any machines because each is unique and I have a usage for each. I have given these folks info from 2 dealers (neither of which is anywhere near me) and I know that each dealer has sold machines to customers. Granted the sell of a few machines will not make either rich, but the exposure to the sport is what is really needed. A magazine ad is fine, but to actually show a potential buyer our machine's capabilities is eye-opening to many. To take them on a demo-ride is the definitive sales technique.
In this area all atv's are selling well. Most 4 wheelers are priced out $10-15k, which is pretty much what most new 6x6s are going for.

That's a thought, maybe we ought to start giving rides when asked about our machines. I've been asked by a couple of my nephews to take the Trackster for a ride at a nearby atv park after it is up and running. I think I'll load them up when we get there and let them see what we're all about. I tell them all the time if you ever drive one you will be hung for life.

[wheeler]

Thanks

Yep, at least for now it's clear to me, that now is not the time to start a dealership. I appreciate all your input, it's good to hear it straight from the horses mouth.

[foxspoiler]

wheeler, where abouts in Minn are you? I live in East Bethel, and have thought about doing a Max dealership over the past few years. I know there was one in White Bear Lake for a few years and went out. what I found by looking at dealers on the max website was most dealers don't stock any machines or the ones that do, have them for years. there was an argo dealer in Pine City for years, he used to have a booth at state fair. now I don't see him or his adds anymore. I know around here everyone buys polaris 4x4 or sidexsides. I am retired and thought about going to Buffalo and getting 2 or 3 machines but afraid I would be stuck with most of them. I go to most of the sled shows so I know I could have set up and advertised them there. like haydays or Princeton outlaw days. I watch craigslist alot for 6x6 and there are some always on there for sale that don't seem to move to fast. I think with polaris and arctic cat here they kind of dominate the scene.

[wheeler]

6x6 I'm from Pine City, Mn. Go Vikes. Hey good to hear from you. I didn't there was anybody around here with any interest in these things. We need to talk.

[jnrmoto]

Hello wheeler and foxpoiler! I'm up in Sandstone MN. Glad to hear there are a few other 6x6's around the state! If you want some more company during the "talks" keep me in mind! Currently working on a 93 Max IV and getting it back in shape ---should be ready to go in about two weeks.

[max 4 punker]

Hello guys this is Brad from Duluth or max 4 punker it seems like everyone that has a 6x6AATV just uses it for hunting or work I used to ride with 4wheelers because no one with a 6x6 would ride for fun.